Viridian: Makes His Mark Celebrates the Kids Who Dream of Making Comics

Every comic creator has an origin story, and sometimes it begins with drawings on the back of a school worksheet. That’s the heart of Viridian: Makes His Mark, Roland Boles’ graphic novel from Top Shelf Productions.

Meet Viridian “Vee” James, a middle-school kid who loves drawing comics on his worksheets. When a classmate discovers his work, Vee expects embarrassment. Instead, the drawings get shared, people love them, and suddenly this young creator starts thinking bigger. His next mission? Win the contest to become his school’s official newspaper cartoonist.

Of course, Vee isn’t the only artist with dreams. Rival Chuck has his own style and ambitions, and their competition turns into a story about learning how to create, collaborate and believe in what you’re making. Papi, I LOVE that message. Too many young artists are afraid to put their work out there, and a book like this can remind them that the first step is simply getting started.

Boles draws from his own experiences making cartoons in school, which gives this debut a personal foundation. The artwork also switches between the colorful main story and black-and-white comics created by the characters themselves. That’s a fun way to show readers that comics aren’t just something you consume; they’re something you can make.

And let’s give Top Shelf its flowers for backing stories about the next generation of creators. Encouraging kids to write, draw and share their imagination is exactly how we keep this medium thriving.

Viridian: Makes His Mark is listed for January 26, 2027 in the announcement headline, although the release body also contains a conflicting 2026 date. The full-color softcover is listed at $9.99, ISBN 978-1-60309-603-4, with a digital edition planned. Check with the publisher for the final confirmed date. Keep creating, young Crusaders. WEPA!

Top Shelf Productions